Future plans for undisputed super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue are starting to take shape after promoter Hideyuki Ohashi revealed that a major fight is already being planned for February 2027.
“There’s the December matchmaking we’re working on now. Then next February, when I say there’s a big fight, you’ll probably know what I’m talking about. It’s already underway. After that, we’ll do another one at an extraordinary location,” Ohashi told Yahoo Japan.
The comments stopped short of naming an opponent, but it is likely to heighten speculation about a showdown with Jesse Rodriguez. The undefeated American recently moved up to bantamweight and captured the WBA title with a stoppage win over Antonio Vargas.
Rodriguez’s trainer, Robert Garcia, has indicated that the plan is for Rodriguez to have one more fight before moving up to super bantamweight. Potential opponents at bantamweight include WBA champion Seiya Tsutsumi and WBO titleholder Christian Medina, while Rodriguez continues to build towards bigger opportunities.
While much of the attention will focus on the February schedule, Ohashi’s reference to another event in an “extraordinary location” indicates that discussions may already be underway for a second major appearance outside of the expected early 2027 game.
Inoue is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Junto Nakatani in May at the Tokyo Dome, retaining the undisputed championship in a fight that drew enormous attention across Japan. The victory improved his professional record to 31-0 and further cemented his position as one of boxing’s top pound-for-pound fighters.
Ohashi’s latest comments give the clearest indication yet that Inoue’s schedule for early 2027 is already being mapped out, with plans extending beyond a single marquee event. Whether the February fight ends up involving Rodriguez or another opponent, the promoter made it clear that preparations for the next phase of Inoue’s career are already underway.
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Last updated on 06/23/2026 at 01:15
